Personal care article with vibrating head part

ABSTRACT

An interdental treatment device, such as a toothbrush, includes a handle configured to accommodate an electric power source, a head carrying an interdental treatment tool, and a neck between the handle and the head. The head or neck includes a mechanical motorized vibratory device, including a drive which causes the head to vibrate. Electrical connections are operably connected to the mechanical vibratory device and the electric power source to power the mechanical vibratory device via the electrical connections. In various embodiments, a switch may be operably connected to at least one of the electrical connections to interrupt power from the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratory device. In various embodiments, a vibration-damping structure dampens vibration transmission from the head to the handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 12/318,844filed Jan. 9, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,071, which is a Divisionalof application Ser. No. 11/826,292 filed Jul. 13, 2007, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,556,320, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No.11/245,027 filed Oct. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,261,851, which is aDivisional of application Ser. No. 10/913,485 filed Aug. 9, 2004, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,003,839, which is a Divisional of application Ser. No.10/093,699 filed Mar. 11, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,097, which is aContinuation of PCT/CH00/00563 filed Oct. 18, 2000, which claimspriority from German Patent Application. No. 199 50 204.8 filed Oct. 19,1999 and German Patent Application. No. 299 19 053.6 filed Nov. 3, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to an interdental treatment device that includesan electrically powered vibrating head.

2. Description of Related Art

For teeth-cleaning purposes nowadays use is made either of conventionalmanual toothbrushes or of electric toothbrushes, in the case of which amovable brush head can be motor-driven from the handle. Electrictoothbrushes usually achieve a more intensive cleaning action than themanual toothbrushes, but they have the disadvantage that they arerelatively bulky and expensive and may damage the gums and subject thetooth enamel to pronounced abrasion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effectivevibrating toothbrush which corresponds, in size, approximately to theconventional manual toothbrushes and nevertheless allows a bettercleaning action than the latter:

This object is achieved according to the invention by a toothbrushincluding a vibrating head part, a mechanical vibratory device in atleast one of the head and a neck, and a power supply, preferably in thehandle.

Since a mechanical vibratory device which causes the head part tovibrate is accommodated in a front head part of the toothbrush, or in aneck-part region adjacent to the head part, the neck part connecting thehead part to the handle, and is operatively connected to a power source,preferably accommodated in the handle, via electrical connectionsrunning in the neck part, vibration-damping means preferably beingprovided in order to prevent vibration transmission to the handle, thisachieves the situation where the vibrations which effect the improvedcleaning action are produced predominantly in the head part and can onlybe felt to a slight extent in the handle, as a result of whichcomfortable handling of the toothbrush is achieved. A further advantageof the toothbrush according to the invention is that there is no needfor any mechanical drive means to be led through the flexible neck partto the vibratory device. It is merely the electrical connections,designed as wires, cables or electrically conductive plastic tracks,which run through the neck part.

Preferred developments of the toothbrush according to the invention formthe subject matter of the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to thedrawing, in which, purely schematically:

FIG. 1 shows a side view, partially in section, of a first exemplaryembodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention and of ahandle-closure part separated from one another (without a battery);

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view, partially in section, of a second exemplaryembodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention in the assembledstate;

FIG. 3 shows a side view, partially in section, of the toothbrushaccording to FIG. 2 and the closure part separated from one another(without a battery);

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of a toothbrushaccording to the invention in the assembled state;

FIG. 5A shows a front part of the toothbrush according to FIG. 4 withdifferent embodiments of exchangeable interdental treatment heads; and

FIGS. 5B-D show different embodiments of exchangeable interdentaltreatment heads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Both the toothbrush illustrated in FIG. 1 and that according to FIGS. 2and 3 each have a handle 1, a front bristle-carrying head part 3 and aneck part 4, which connects the head part 3 to the handle 1. Thebristles combined to form clusters of bristles 6 are anchored in abristle carrier 5 and form a possibly profiled brushing surface withtheir free ends. In the embodiment illustrated, the bristle carrier 5with the clusters of bristles 6 is positioned, in a manner which isknown per se and thus is not described in any more detail, on aretaining part 2 of the head part 3 such that it can be exchanged.

The neck part 4 is provided with neck-part zones 7 which are made of anelastically relatively compliant material component and provide for, oradditionally increase, the elasticity of the neck part 4, with theresult that, during use of the interdental treatment device, the headpart 3 can be forced back resiliently in the case of forces acting inthe direction of the brushing surface. If appropriate, the neck-partzones 7 are designed as notches which extend over part of the neckcircumference and are filled with elastically compliant material (e.g.with thermoplastic elastomer). Of course, it would also be quiteconceivable for the form and number of neck-part zones to be different.It is also conceivable to have a flexible neck zone without usingelastic material components, e.g. by providing constrictions or by wayof a bellows.

Integrated in the front head part 3, or in that region of the neck part4 which is adjacent to the head part 3, is a mechanical vibratory device10, by means of which vibrations which effect or enhance theteeth-cleaning action may be imparted to the head part 3. The vibratorydevice 10 can be connected to an electric power source, accommodated inthe handle 1, via electrical connections running in the neck part 4, asis described herein below. The already mentioned neck-part zones 7 madeof an elastically compliant material act here as means which damp thevibration between the vibrating head part 3 and the handle 1, with theresult that the vibratory action is produced, in particular, in the headpart and is only transmitted to the handle 1 to a slight extent. Thismeans that only slight vibrations can be felt in the handle 1 during theteeth-cleaning operation, and the toothbrush is thus comfortable tohandle. Conversely, however, it is also advantageous that the vibrationproduced is not damped by the handle 1 and can act to full effect in thehead part 3. Instead of the neck-part zones 7 consisting of elasticallycompliant material, however, other vibration-damping means would also beconceivable; it is not absolutely necessary to use an elastic material.The damping may also be achieved, using a basic material, by the neckpart being configured in a particular form, for example by the presenceof a bellows/accordion part, etc.

Accommodated in the handle 1 is a sheath or sleeve 20 which extends inthe longitudinal direction of said handle and is made of electricallyconductive material. Both the handle 1 and the sleeve 20 are open to therear, this forming a cavity 21 which can be closed from the rear by aclosure part 22 and into which it is possible to insert a battery 25, inthe exemplary embodiment illustrated a commercially available,non-rechargeable cylindrical battery, with a defined power (e.g. 1.5 V)as the power source for the vibratory device 10. It would also bepossible, however, for a button cell or for a rechargeable storagebattery to be used as the power source.

A spring contact 29 for the positive pole 30 of the battery 25 (see FIG.2) is fitted in the sleeve 20, on a transverse wall 28, and is connectedto the vibratory device 10 via an electric line 31, a switch 32, whichis installed in the sleeve 20 and can be actuated from the outside ofthe handle 1, and an electric line 33 running in the neck part 4. Theelectrical connection can be interrupted by means of the switch 32.

The closure part 22 is provided with a threaded stub 22 a made of anelectrically conductive material and can be screwed into the handle 1and/or into the sleeve 20 by way of said threaded stub. The threadedstub 22 a is provided with a contact surface 22 b which, with theclosure part 22 screwed in, comes into abutment against the negativepole 35 of the battery 25 inserted into the sleeve 20. The negative pole35 is electrically connected to the vibratory device 10 via the threadedstub 22 a, the sleeve 20 itself and a line 34, which connects the sleeve20 to the vibratory device 10 and runs in the neck part 4.

Instead of being transmitted via the electrically conductive sleeve 20,it would also be possible for the power from the negative pole 35 to betransmitted in some other way, for example using wires or anelectrically conductive plastic.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the vibratory device10 comprises a vibratory element 11′ which functions preferably in themanner of a vibratory armature, can be electrically connected directlyto the power source via the lines 33, 34 and, with the power sourceconnected, is made to vibrate.

In the case of the toothbrush variants illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, thevibratory device 10 comprises a vibratory element 11 in the form of aneccentric, which produces mechanical vibrations and can be rotated aboutan axis located in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, andalso comprises a drive which is arranged directly adjacent and isdesigned as a micromotor 15. The vibratory element 11 is connected tothe shaft 15 a of the micromotor 15, which can be electrically connectedto the power source via the lines 33, 34. The micromotor 15 and theeccentric may be accommodated as a structural unit in a housing 12.

Instead of an eccentric which can be driven in rotation, it would alsobe possible to have a vibratory element 11 which can be driven in atranslatory manner.

It would be possible, in the case of the toothbrush according to theinvention, to arrange the bristle-carrying head part 3 such that it canbe moved in relation to the neck part 4 in order for the latter, in thecase of vibrations produced by means of the vibratory device 10, to bemade to move in relation to the rest of the toothbrush.

The electric lines 31, 33, 34 could also be realized byelectricity-conducting plastic tracks.

The switch 32, which connects or interrupts the lines 31, 33, may alsobe, for example, a magnetic switch.

The preferred configuration of the switch 32, however, contains a pulseswitch arranged on a printed circuit board as well as further electroniccomponents which store the switching state.

It is also possible, however, for the electrical connection between thebattery 25 and the vibratory element 11′ (FIG. 1) or the drive 15 (FIGS.2 and 3) to be produced or interrupted not by the switch 32, but by theclosure part 22, which can be screwed into the handle 1 and/or into thesleeve 20 or connected to the same in a bayonet-like manner, beingturned (i.e. the switch 32 is dispensed with in the case of such aconfiguration).

Instead of the rear closure part 22 being screwed to the handle 1, itwould, of course, also be possible to have some other type of releasableconnection (e.g. plug-in connection, bayonet connection, etc.) and acorresponding configuration of the contact part interacting with thenegative pole 35.

It would also be possible for the closure part 22 to be in a form whichis quite different to that illustrated in the drawing. For example, theclosure part could be provided with a set-down surface or a foot partand thus serve as an element on which the toothbrush can be set down.

The toothbrush illustrated in FIG. 4 corresponds essentially to thataccording to FIGS. 2 and 3; the same parts, once again, have the samedesignations. According to FIG. 4, the vibratory device 10 is arrangeddirectly in the front head part 3. In this exemplary embodiment, thesleeve 20 is dispensed with; the battery 25 is connected directly to thevibratory device 10 via the lines 33, 34. It is also the case with thisdevice that use is preferably made of an exchangeable carrier 5 whichcan be positioned on a retaining part 2 of the head part 3, e.g. in themanner of a snap-in connection. The capacity for changing the bristlecarrier 5 provided with the clusters of bristles 6 is particularlyadvantageous since the interdental treatment device provided with thevibratory device 10 can be used irrespective of the service life of thebristles, which is usually even shorter than the service life of thebattery 25.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, it is possible, instead of the bristlecarrier 5 or 5 a, which forms part of a conventional brush head and isprovided with respective clusters of bristles 6 or 6 a, to positionother, optionally different carriers or adapters 5 b to 5 d on theretaining part 2, these being provided with different interdentalbrushes 6 b, 6 c or interdental treatment parts 6 d for effectivecleaning of the spaces between the teeth. The interdental brush 6 b maybe designed, for example, as a helical brush made of coated wire withplastic filaments twisted in. The interdental brush 6 c comprisesbristles which, together, form a cluster tip. The treatment part 6 d maybe designed, for example, as a plastic element which has a tip and maypreferably be provided with an abrasive coating for removing plaque andtartar from the spaces between the teeth. Of course, it would also bepossible to use any other desired treatment heads.

It is also the case with the variant according to FIGS. 4 and 5 that thebristle carrier 5 could be configured such that a vibration-inducedmovement in relation to the retaining part 2 were possible.

For the introduction of the vibratory device 10, the connecting lines33, 34 and further electronic components, it is possible for thetoothbrush according to the invention, or the housing thereof, to beproduced in two parts and for the two parts to be welded in awater-tight manner once the abovementioned parts have been positionedtherein.

It is also possible, however, for the toothbrush according to theinvention to be produced by injection molding preferably involving twoor more components. The abovementioned parts are advantageouslypositioned as a unit in an injection molding made of a first materialcomponent and then encapsulated in the second material component (or inthe further material component) by injection molding. It is notnecessary here for full encapsulation to take place. Certain parts maybe exposed, as a result of which it is possible to achieve an estheticeffect.

It would also be possible, however, for the abovementioned electroniccomponents to be inserted into a ready molded handle 1.

Since it is not only the vibratory element 11, 11′ itself but also thedrive, i.e. the micromotor 15, which are arranged in the front head part3, or in the directly adjacent front region of the neck part 4, it isnot necessary for any mechanical drive means to be led through theflexible neck part 4 in order to connect the micromotor to the vibratoryelement 11. It is only the electric lines 33, 34 (wires, cables orelectrically conductive plastic tracks) which run through the neck part4.

According to the invention, use is made of a mechanical vibratory device10 which has a diameter of less than 15 mm, preferably less than 6 mm,and is less than 35 mm, preferably less than 20 mm, in length. Thisensures that the toothbrush may be of ergonomic configuration and iseasy to handle. The toothbrush according to the invention maycorrespond, in size, more or less to the conventional manualtoothbrushes, which makes them more straightforward to handle incomparison with the commercially available, considerably larger electrictoothbrushes, even though this toothbrush achieves a cleaning actionwhich is comparable with that of the known electric toothbrushes, but isgentler than the latter. Moreover, the toothbrush according to theinvention is straightforward and cost-effective to produce.

It is nevertheless also possible for the vibratory device according tothe invention to be integrated in conventional electric toothbrushes.

1. A toothbrush comprising: a handle molded from two or more plasticcomponents and configured to accommodate an electric power source; ahead, the head including bristles; a neck located between the handle andthe head; a mechanical motorized vibratory device comprising aneccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; a sheath orsleeve that is made of electrically conductive material accommodated inthe handle, that extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle, andthat is open to a rear direction to define a cavity for the electricpower source; a cover having a rotative connection to the handle, thesheath or the sleeve, the cover being provided with a contact part thatinteracts with the electric power source and the sheath or the sleeve; aswitch for interrupting an electrical connection between the powersource and the mechanical motorized vibratory device.
 2. The toothbrushas claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory deviceis located in the head or the neck.
 3. The toothbrush as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a vibration-damping structure in the neckfor dampening vibration transmission from the head to the handle.
 4. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the neck includes at least onevibration-damping zone comprising an elastically compliant material. 5.The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the neck includes notchesthat are filled with an elastically compliant material and that extendover part of a circumference of the neck.
 6. The toothbrush as claimedin claim 1, wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device has adiameter of less than 15 mm and a length of less than 20 mm.
 7. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein electronic parts, includingthe mechanical motorized vibratory device, are positioned in a moldedpart which has been made from a first material component by injectionmolding and are at least partially encapsulated in a further materialcomponent by injection molding.
 8. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1,wherein the switch is located in the handle and can be actuated fromoutside the handle.
 9. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein theswitch comprises a pulse switch arranged on a printed circuit board andfurther electronic components that store a switching state.
 10. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein electric connection lines areoperably connected to the mechanical motorized vibratory device andoperably connectable to the electric power source to provide electricalpower to the mechanical motorized vibratory device via the electricconnection lines.
 11. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 10, wherein theelectric connection lines run through the neck.
 12. A toothbrush asclaimed in claim 1, wherein one of the plastic components used to moldthe handle is an elastically compliant material.
 13. A toothbrushcomprising: a handle molded from two or more plastic componentsconfigured to accommodate an electric power source; a head, the headincluding bristles; a neck located between the handle and the head; amechanical motorized vibratory device that causes the head to vibrate; asheath or sleeve that is made of electrically conductive materialaccommodated in the handle, that extends in a longitudinal direction ofthe handle, and that is open to a rear direction to define a cavity forthe electric power source; a cover having a rotative connection to thehandle, the sheath or the sleeve, the cover being provided with acontact part that interacts with the electric power source and thesheath or the sleeve; a switch for interrupting power from the powersource to the mechanical motorized vibratory device and comprising apulse switch arranged on a printed circuit board and further electroniccomponents storing a switching state.
 14. The toothbrush as claimed inclaim 13, further comprising a vibration-damping structure in the neckfor dampening vibration transmission from the head to the handle. 15.The toothbrush as claimed in claim 13, wherein the neck includes atleast one vibration-damping zone comprising an elastically compliantmaterial.
 16. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 13, wherein themechanical motorized vibratory device includes a drive having an axis ofrotation oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a portionof the toothbrush in which the mechanical motorized vibratory device islocated.
 17. The toothbrush as recited in claim 13, wherein themechanical motorized vibratory device comprises an eccentric body thatrotates.
 18. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 13, wherein electronicparts, including the mechanical motorized vibratory device, arepositioned in a molded part which has been made from a first materialcomponent by injection molding and are at least partially encapsulatedin a further material component by injection molding.
 19. The toothbrushas claimed in claim 13, wherein the switch is located in the handle andcan be actuated from outside the handle.
 20. The toothbrush as claimedin claim 13, wherein electric connection lines are operably connected tothe mechanical motorized vibratory device and operably connectable tothe electric power source to provide electrical power to the mechanicalmotorized vibratory device via the electric connection lines.
 21. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 20, wherein the electric connection linesrun through the neck.
 22. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 13, whereinone of the plastic components used to mold the handle is an elasticallycompliant material.
 23. A toothbrush comprising: a handle molded fromtwo or more plastic components and configured to accommodate an electricpower source; a head, the head including bristles; a neck locatedbetween the handle and the head; an electrical energy consuming devicelocated in the neck or the head; a sheath or sleeve accommodated in thehandle that extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle, that ismade of electrically conductive material, and that is open to a reardirection to define a cavity for the electric power source; a coverhaving a rotative connection to the handle, the sheath or the sleeve,the cover being provided with a contact part that interacts with theelectric power source and the sheath or the sleeve; a switch forinterrupting power from the power source to the electrical energyconsuming device and comprising a pulse switch arranged on a printedcircuit board and further electronic components storing a switchingstate.
 24. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 23, wherein electronicparts, including the electric energy consuming device, are positioned ina molded part which has been made from a first material component byinjection molding, and are at least partially encapsulated in a furthermaterial component by injection molding.
 25. The toothbrush as claimedin claim 23, wherein the switch is located in the handle and can beactuated from outside the handle.
 26. The toothbrush as claimed in claim23, wherein electric connection lines are operably connected to theelectrical energy consuming device and operably connectable to theelectric power source to provide electrical power to the electricalenergy consuming device via the electric connection lines.
 27. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 26, wherein electric connection lines runthrough the neck.
 28. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 23, wherein oneof the plastic components used to mold the handle is an elasticallycompliant material.
 29. A personal hygiene article comprising: a handlemolded from two or more plastic components and configured to accommodatean electric power source; a head part; a mechanical motorized vibratorydevice comprising an eccentric body that rotates to cause the head partto vibrate; a sheath or sleeve that is accommodated in the handle, thatextends in the longitudinal direction of the handle, that is made ofelectrically conductive material, and that is open to a rear directionto form a cavity for an electric power source; a cover having a rotativeconnection to the handle, the sheath or the sleeve, the cover beingprovided with a contact part that interacts with the electric powersource and the sheath or the sleeve; a switch for interrupting powerfrom the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratory device, andcomprising a pulse switch arranged on a printed circuit board andfurther electronic components storing a switching state.
 30. Thepersonal hygiene article as claimed in claim 29, wherein the mechanicalmotorized vibratory device includes a drive having an axis of rotationoriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a portion of thetoothbrush in which the mechanical motorized vibratory device islocated.
 31. The personal hygiene article as recited in claim 29,wherein the head part includes a brush head with bristles.
 32. Thepersonal hygiene article as recited in claim 29, wherein the head partincludes a plastic element with a tip.
 33. The personal hygiene articleas recited in claim 29, wherein the head part includes a helical brushmade of wire with plastic filaments twisted in.
 34. The personal hygienearticle as recited in claim 29, wherein the head part includes aninterdental treatment element for cleaning of spaces between teeth. 35.A personal hygiene article as claimed in claim 29, wherein one of theplastic components used to mold the handle is an elastically compliantmaterial.
 36. A personal hygiene article comprising: a handle moldedfrom two or more plastic components and configured to accommodate anelectric power source; a head part; a neck located between the handleand the head; a mechanical motorized vibratory device comprising aneccentric body that rotates to cause the head part to vibrate; a sheathor sleeve that is accommodated in the handle, that extends in thelongitudinal direction of the handle, that is made of electricallyconductive material, and that is open to a rear direction to form acavity for receiving the electric power source; a cover having arotative connection to the handle, the sheath or the sleeve, the coverbeing provided with a contact part that interacts with the electricpower source and the sheath or the sleeve, and wherein the rotativeconnection is accomplished by a releasable bayonet connection betweenthe contact part and the sheath or the sleeve; a switch for interruptingpower from the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratorydevice.
 37. The personal hygiene article as claimed in claim 36, whereinthe mechanical motorized vibratory device includes a drive having anaxis of rotation oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of aportion of the personal hygiene device in which the motorized vibratorydevice is located.
 38. The personal hygiene article as recited in claim36, wherein the head part includes a brush head with bristles.
 39. Thepersonal hygiene article as recited in claim 36, wherein the head partincludes a plastic element with a tip.
 40. The personal hygiene articleas recited in claim 36, wherein one of the plastic components used tomold the handle is an elastically compliant material.
 41. The personalhygiene article as recited in claim 36, wherein the switch comprisespulse switch arranged on a printed circuit board and further electroniccomponents storing a switching state.
 42. The personal hygiene articleas recited in claim 36, wherein the switch is located on the housing.43. The personal hygiene article as recited in claim 42, wherein theswitch is located adjacent to a forward end of the sheath or sleeve. 44.The personal hygiene article as recited in claim 36, wherein themechanical motorized vibratory device is located in the head part orneck part.
 45. The personal hygiene article as recited in claim 36,wherein the head part includes a working element that is releasablysecured thereto for providing exchangeability of the working element.46. The personal hygiene article as recited in claim 45, wherein thepersonal hygiene article is a toothbrush and the working elementincludes bristles.
 47. A personal hygiene article comprising: a handlemolded from two or more plastic components and configured to accommodatean electric power source, the handle having a generally cylindricalinterior wall; a head part; a neck located between the handle and thehead; a mechanical motorized vibratory device comprising an eccentricbody that rotates to cause the head part to vibrate; a conductor that issecured to the interior wall in the handle, that extends in thelongitudinal direction of the handle, that is made of electricallyconductive material, that has a circumferentially oriented surfacefacing a circumferential surface of the electric power source, and that,along with the handle, is open to a rear direction to form a cavity forreceiving the electric power source; a cover having a rotativeconnection to the handle, the cover being provided with a contact partthat interacts with the electric power source and the conductor, andwherein the rotative connection is accomplished by a releasable threadedconnection permitting the cover to be screwed onto the handle to causethe contact part of the cover to electrically contact the conductorsecured to the interior wall of the housing; a switch for interruptingpower from the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratorydevice, the switch being located on the handle.
 48. The personal hygienearticle as recited in claim 47, wherein the head part includes a workingelement that is releasably secured thereto for providing exchangeabilityto the working element.
 49. The personal hygiene article as recited inclaim 48, wherein the personal hygiene article is a toothbrush and theworking element includes bristles.
 50. The personal hygiene as recitedin claim 47, wherein one of the plastic components used to mold thehandle is an elastically compliant material.
 51. The personal hygienearticle as recited in claim 47, wherein the head part includes a brushhead with bristles.
 52. The personal hygiene article as recited in claim47, wherein the switch comprises a pulse switch arranged on a printedcircuit board and further electronic components storing a switchingstate.